How Much Does College Cost?
Sticker Price
The estimated average "sticker price" cost of attending two-year
and four-year colleges ranged from $15,906 to $59,890 in the
2024-2025 academic year.
| Tuition & Fees |
$4,050 |
$11,610 |
$30,780 |
$43,350 |
| Food and Housing* |
$10,390 |
$13,310 |
$13,310 |
$15,250 |
| Books and Supplies |
$1,520 |
$1,290 |
$1,290 |
$1,290 |
| TOTAL |
$15,960 |
$26,210 |
$45,380 |
$59,890 |
*Food and housing estimates are based on typical costs for
students living on campus, including meal plans. Costs may be lower
for students living at home and higher for those living
independently off-campus.
These averages are national figures from the College Board's
Trends in College Pricing and Student Aid
2024 report.
Net Price
The "true cost" is more accurately measure by net
price -- the cost of attendance minus the average
grant and scholarship aid you receive.
In short: the sticker price is the
college's full published cost of attendance before any aid, while
the net price is what you're likely to pay out of pocket
after grants and scholarships are applied.
To find the net price for the colleges you're interested in,
visit College Scorecard. There, you can
view each school's average annual net price and see how it changes
based on your family's income level.